Display apparatus for indirectly refrigerating food and beverage items

Abstract

A portable, refrigerated article display apparatus for indirectly refrigerating individually packaged articles, such as food items and/or beverages, and promoting impulse buying comprises a base, a hollow housing having a transparent, outer cylindrical-shaped wall and an article support assembly mounted in the interior of the housing atop a rotatable article support carriage. The article support assembly comprises either a shelf unit having a series of interlocking, vertically stacked shelf members adapted to support food items such as prepared sandwiches, a beverage rack having a plurality of vertically extending columns adapted to support beverage containers stacked end-to-end, or a combination shelf unit and beverage rack. A refrigeration system circulates refrigerated air within a substantially enclosed interior chilling space formed by the article support assembly to chill the surfaces of the shelf unit and/or beverage rack in the displaying space defined between the transparent outer wall and the article support assembly of the hollow housing, so that the food or beverage items carried thereon in the displaying space are effectively yet indirectly refrigerated via radiation and/or conduction. This unique construction also substantially prevents condensation on the transparent outer wall of the housing of the display apparatus since it is isolated from the flow of refrigerated air in the enclosed interior chilling space.

We claim: 
     
       1. An article display apparatus, comprising: a base support;   a housing having an outer wall and a hollow interior, said housing being mounted to said base support;   door means mounted over an opening formed in said outer wall of said housing for permitting access to said hollow interior of said housing;   an article support carriage mounted to said base support at the bottom of said housing;   an article support assembly mounted atop said article support carriage within said hollow interior of said housing, said article support assembly comprising a wall having an inner surface which defines a substantially enclosed interior space for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom and an outer surface which defines a displaying space between said wall and said outer wall of said housing, said outer surface of said wall including a plurality of food support means for carrying articles of food and/or beverages in said displaying space;   means for rotating said article support carriage when said door means is closed so that said article support assembly and said plurality of food support means are rotated simultaneously within said housing; and   means for supporting refrigerated air into said substantially enclosed interior space of said article support assembly, so that the refrigerated air is brought into heat exchange relationship with respect to at least a portion of said inner surface of said wall of said article support assembly whereby said food support means of said article support assembly is chilled by the refrigerated air in within said substantially enclosed interior space for indirectly refrigerating articles of food and/or beverages carried thereon in said displaying space.   
     
     
       2. The article display apparatus of claim 1 in which said article support assembly comprises: a number of alternating first shelf members and second shelf members interconnected to one another to form a substantially enclosed interior;   one of said first and second shelf members being formed with a shelf portion for supporting food items placed thereon.   
     
     
       3. The article display apparatus of claim 2 in which each of said first shelf members comprises: a first annular flange;   an annular shelf portion extending radially outwardly from said first annular flange and having an outermost end formed with an annular hook, said annular shelf portion being tapered so that said outermost end is positioned vertically lower than said upper annular flange when assembled with said second shelf members of said article support assembly.   
     
     
       4. The article display apparatus of claim 3 in which each of said second shelf members comprises: a second annular flange having an offset end formed to mate with said first annular flange of a first shelf member;   an annular support wall extending radially outwardly from said second annular flange and having an outermost end formed with a lip which mates with said annular hook of a first shelf member, whereby alternating first and second shelf members are interconnected together to form said article support assembly.   
     
     
       5. The article display apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for directing refrigerated air through said substantially sealed interior space of said article support assembly, comprises: a vertically extending cooling column located within said sealed interior of said article support assembly, said cooling column having a wall defining a hollow interior, said wall being formed with inlet passages at the bottom end thereof and outlet passages at the top end thereof;   refrigeration means for directing refrigeration air into said sealed interior space of said article support assembly in a flow path wherein the refrigerated air flows into said interior of said cooling column to said top end thereof, out of said outlet passages in said top end into said sealed interior space of said article support assembly, into heat exchange relationship with respect to said food support means of said article support assembly and then into said hollow interior of said cooling column through said inlet openings at said bottom end thereof.   
     
     
       6. The article display apparatus of claim 5 in which said cooling column includes a baffle mounted to said outer wall thereof, said baffle extending radially outwardly from said outer wall of said cooling column downwardly toward said inlet passages therein to direct the flow of refrigerated air outwardly from said cooling column to said article support means located at said bottom end of said cooling column. 
     
     
       7. The article display apparatus of claim 1 in which said article support assembly has a top end and a bottom end, said housing having a sealing plate mounted in position to sealingly engage said top end of said article support assembly and said bottom end of said article support assembly being sealingly connected atop said article support carriage, whereby said sealed interior space of said article support assembly is enclosed at said top and bottom ends. 
     
     
       8. An article display apparatus for indirectly refrigerating food items and/or beverages, comprising: a housing having a hollow interior;   an article support assembly carried within said hollow interior of said housing, said article support assembly having an interior which is substantially enclosed for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom and a wall including food support means for carrying articles of food and/or beverages outside of said enclosed interior and within said hollow interior of said housing;   a vertically extending cooling column located within said sealed interior of said article support assembly, said cooling column having a wall defining a hollow interior, said wall being formed with inlet passages at the bottom end thereof and outlet passages at the top end thereof; and   refrigeration means for directing refrigerated air into said sealed interior space of said article support assembly in a flow path wherein the refrigerated air flows into said interior of said cooling column to said top end thereof, out of said outlet passages in said top and into said sealed interior space of said article support assembly, into heat exchange relationship with respect to said food support means of said article support assembly and then into said hollow interior of said cooling column through said inlet openings at said bottom end thereof to chill said article food support means so that said article food support means is effective for indirectly refrigerating articles of food and/or beverages carried thereon.   
     
     
       9. The article display apparatus of claim 8 in which said article support assembly comprises: a number of alternating first shelf members and second shelf members interconnected to one another to form a substantially sealed interior;   one of said first and second shelf members being formed with a shelf portion for supporting food items placed thereon.   
     
     
       10. The article display apparatus of claim 8 in which said article support assembly comprises: a beverage rack having a wall formed with means for supporting beverage containers vertically stacked end-to-end;   a shelf unit having a wall formed with means for supporting food items;   said beverage rack and said shelf unit being connected to one another so that said walls thereof form said enclosed interior which is substantially sealed.   
     
     
       11. An article display apparatus, comprising: a base support;   a housing having an outer wall and a hollow interior, said housing being mounted to said base support;   door means mounted over an opening formed in said outer wall of said housing for permitting access into said interior of said housing;   an article support carriage mounted to said base support at the bottom of said housing;   an article support assembly mounted atop said article support carriage within said interior of said housing, said article support assembly including: (i) a beverage rack having a wall formed with means for supporting beverage containers vertically stacked end-to-end;   (ii) a shelf unit having a wall formed with means for supporting food items;   (iii) said beverage rack and said shelf unit being connected to one another so that said walls thereof form an interior space which is substantially enclosed for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom;     means for directing refrigerated air through said enclosed interior space of said article support assembly so that the refrigerated air is brought into heat exchange relationship with respect to said wall of said beverage rack and said wall of said shelf unit, whereby said means for supporting beverage containers and said means for supporting food items become chilled by the refrigerated air and are effective to indirectly refrigerate the beverage containers and food items carried thereon.   
     
     
       12. The article display apparatus of claim 11 in which said beverage rack comprises a plurality of extrusions connected side-by-side to one another in a generally cylindrical shape, each of said extrusions being formed with a pair of columns having first and second gripping arms, said first and second gripping arms having opposed article gripping portions and opposed outer ends, the transverse dimension between said opposed article gripping portions being about equal to the transverse dimension of a beverage container to be held therebetween, the transverse dimension of said opposed outer ends being less than said transverse dimension of the beverage container so that said outer ends are spaced apart from an undeflected position upon insertion or removal of an article therebetween. 
     
     
       13. The article display apparatus of claim 11 in which one said beverage rack and said shelf unit is mounted to said article support carriage, and the other of said beverage rack and said shelf unit is mounted atop a mounting plate located therebetween. 
     
     
       14. The article display apparatus of claim 13 in which said housing includes a sealing plate mounted in position to sealingly engage said one of said beverage rack and shelf unit mounted atop said mounting plate, the other of said beverage rack and said shelf unit sealingly engaging said article support carriage. 
     
     
       15. The article display apparatus of claim 13 in which said shelf unit comprises: a number of alternating first shelf members and second shelf members interconnected to one another to form said enclosed interior which is substantially sealed;   one of said first and second shelf members being formed with a shelf portion for supporting food items placed thereon.   
     
     
       16. The article display apparatus of claim 15 in which each of said first shelf members comprises: a first annular flange;   an annular shelf portion extending radially outwardly from said first annular flange and having an outermost end formed with an annular hook, said annular shelf portion being tapered so that said outermost end is positioned vertically lower than said first annular flange when assembled with said second shelf members of said article support assembly.   
     
     
       17. The article display apparatus of claim 15 in which each of said second shelf members comprises: a second annular flange having an offset end formed to mate with said first annular flange of a first shelf member;   an annular support wall extending radially outwardly from said second annular flange and having an outermost end formed with a lip which mates with said annular hook of a first shelf member, whereby alternating first and second shelf members are interconnected together to form said article support assembly.   
     
     
       18. The article display apparatus of claim 11 in which said means for directing refrigerated air through said enclosed interior space of said article support, comprises: a vertically extending cooling column located within said enclosed interior of said article support assembly, said cooling column having a wall defining a hollow interior, said wall being formed with inlet passages at the bottom end thereof and outlet passages at the top end thereof;   refrigeration means for directing refrigerated air into said enclosed interior space of said article support assembly in a flow path wherein the refrigerated air flows into said hollow interior of said cooling column to said top end thereof, out of said outlet passages in said top end of said cooling column into said enclosed interior space of said article support assembly where the refrigerated air moves into heat exchange relationship with respect to said means for supporting beverage containers and said means for supporting food items, whereby said means for supporting beverage containers and said means for supporting food items are chilled by the refrigerated air and are effective to indirectly refrigerate beverage containers and food items carried thereon.   
     
     
       19. The article display apparatus of claim 18 in which said cooling column includes a baffle mounted to said outer wall thereof, said baffle extending radially outwardly from said outer wall of said cooling column downwardly toward said inlet passages therein to direct the flow of refrigerated air outwardly from said cooling column to one of said means for supporting food items and said means for supporting beverage containers at said bottom end thereof. 
     
     
       20. An article display apparatus, comprising: a base support;   a housing having an outer wall and a hollow interior, said housing being mounted to said base support;   door means mounted over an opening formed in said outer wall of said housing for permitting access to said hollow interior of said housing;   an article support carriage mounted to said base support at the bottom of said housing;   an article support assembly mounted atop said article support carriage within said hollow interior of said housing, said article support assembly comprising a wall having an inner surface which defines an interior space and an outer wall which defines a displaying space between said wall and said outer wall of said housing, said outer surface of said wall including a plurality of food support means for carrying food and/or beverage items in said displaying space;   means for rotating said article support carriage when said door means is closed so that said article support assembly and said plurality of food support means are rotated simultaneously within said housing;   means for directing refrigerated air into said interior space of said article support assembly; and   means for substantially enclosing said interior space of said article support assembly for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom, so that when the refrigerated air is directed into said substantially enclosed interior space via said directing means, the refrigerated air is brought into heat exchange relationship with respect to at least a portion of the inner surface of said wall of said article food support assembly whereby said plurality of food support means of said article support assembly are chilled by the refrigerated air within said substantially enclosed interior space for indirectly refrigerating food and/or beverage items carried thereon in said displaying space.   
     
     
       21. An article display apparatus, comprising; a base support;   a housing having an outer wall and a hollow interior, said housing being mounted to said base support;   door means mounted over an opening formed in said outer wall of said housing for permitting access to said hollow interior of said housing;   an article support carriage mounted to said base support at the bottom of said housing;   an article support assembly mounted atop said article support carriage within said hollow interior of said housing, said article support assembly comprising a wall having an inner surface which defines a substantially enclosed interior space for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom and an outer surface which defines a displaying space between said wall and said outer wall of said housing, said outer surface of said wall including food support means for carrying articles of food and/or beverages in said displaying space;   a number of alternating first shelf members and second shelf members interconnected to one another to form the substantially enclosed interior space, at least one said first and second shelf members being formed with a shelf portion for supporting food items placed thereon and each of said first shelf members comprising a first annular flange and an annular shelf portion extending radially outwardly from said first annular flange and having an outermost end formed with an annular hook, said annular shelf portion being tapered so that said outermost end is positioned vertically lower than said upper annular flange when assembled with said second shelf members of said article support assembly; and   means for directing refrigerated air into said substantially enclosed interior space of said article support assembly, so that the refrigerated air is brought into heat exchange relationship with respect to at least a portion of said inner surface of said wall of said article support assembly whereby said food support means of said article support assembly is chilled by the refrigerated air within said substantially enclosed interior space for indirectly refrigerating articles of food and/or beverages carried thereon in said displaying space.   
     
     
       22. The article display apparatus of claim 21, each of said second shelf members comprising: a second annular flange having an offset end formed to mate with said first annular flange of one said first shelf member; and   an annular support wall extending radially outwardly from said second annular flange and having an outermost end formed with a lip which mates with said annular hook of one said first shelf member, whereby alternating said first and second shelf members are interconnected together to from said article support assembly.   
     
     
       23. An article display apparatus, comprising: a base support;   a housing having an outer wall and a hollow interior, said housing being mounted to said base support;   door means mounted over an opening formed in said outer wall of said housing for permitting access to said hollow interior of said housing;   an article support carriage mounted to said base support at the bottom of said housing;   an article support assembly mounted atop said article support carriage within said hollow interior of said housing, said article support assembly comprising a wall having an inner surface which defines a substantially enclosed interior space for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom and an outer surface which defines a displaying space between said wall and said outer wall of said housing, said outer surface of said wall including food support means for carrying articles of food and/or beverages in said displaying space;   a vertically extending cooling column located within said sealed interior of said article support assembly, said cooling column having a wall defining a hollow interior, said wall being formed with inlet passages at the bottom end thereof and outlet passages at the top end thereof; and   refrigeration means for directing refrigerated air into said sealed interior space of said article support assembly in a flow path wherein the refrigerated air flows into said interior of said cooling column to said top end thereof, out of said outlet passages in said top end into said sealed interior space of said article support assembly, into heat exchange relationship with respect to said food support means of said article support assembly and then into said hollow interior of said cooling column through said inlet openings at said bottom end thereof, whereby said food support means of said article support assembly is chilled by the refrigerated air within said substantially enclosed interior space for indirectly refrigerating articles of food and/or beverages carried thereon.   
     
     
       24. The article display apparatus of claim 23 in which said cooling column includes a baffle mounted to said outer wall thereof, said baffle extending radially outwardly from said outer wall of said cooling column downwardly toward said inlet passages therein to direct the flow of refrigerated air outwardly from said cooling column to said article support means located at said bottom end of said cooling column. 
     
     
       25. An article display apparatus, comprising: a base support;   a housing having an outer wall and a hollow interior, said housing being mounted to said base support;   door means mounted over an opening formed in said outer wall of said housing for permitting access to said hollow interior of said housing;   an article support carriage mounted to said base support at the bottom of said housing;   an article support assembly mounted atop said article support carriage within said hollow interior of said housing, said article support assembly comprising a wall having an inner surface which defines a substantially enclosed interior space for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom and an outer surface which defines a displaying space between said wall and said outer wall of said housing, said outer surface of said wall including food support means for carrying articles of food and/or beverages in said displaying space;   said article support assembly having a top end and a bottom end, said housing having a sealing plate mounted in position to sealingly engage said top end of said article support assembly and said bottom end of said article support assembly being sealingly connected atop said article support carriage, whereby said sealed interior space of said article support assembly is enclosed at said top and bottom ends; and   means for directing refrigerated air into said substantially enclosed interior space of said article support assembly, so that the refrigerated air is brought into heat exchange relationship with respect to at least a portion of said inner surface of said wall of said article support assembly whereby said food means of said article support assembly is chilled by the refrigerated air within said substantially enclosed interior space for indirectly refrigerating articles of food and/or beverages carried thereon in said displaying space.   
     
     
       26. An article display apparatus for indirectly refrigerating food items and/or beverages, comprising: a housing having a hollow interior;   an article support assembly carried within said hollow interior of said housing, said article support assembly having an interior which is substantially enclosed for substantially preventing the escape of refrigerated air therefrom and a wall including food support means for carrying articles of food and/or beverages outside of said enclosed interior and within said hollow interior of said housing;   said article support assembly comprising a beverage rack having a wall formed with means for supporting beverage containers vertically stacked end-to-end, a shelf unit having a wall formed with means for supporting food items, and said beverage rack and said shelf unit being connected to one another so that said walls thereof form said enclosed interior which is substantially sealed; and   means for refrigerating said enclosed interior of said article support assembly to chill said article food support means so that said article support means is effective for indirectly refrigerating articles of food and/or beverages carried thereon.